Pottstown congregants ready for March on Washington anniversary

In this Aug. 28, 1963, photo, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., center front, marches for civil rights, arms linked in a line of men, in the March on Washington. This weekend’s march will honor the 50th anniversary of that march, which culminated in King’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech. (AP Photo)

POTTSTOWN — Five decades after she was one of the thousands who marched on Washington for equality in civil rights and employment, Helene Wilson will return to march next weekend to commemorate the event.

Wilson is excited to retrace her steps along with other members of Bethel AME Church of Pottstown, but there is more than a symbolic importance to returning.

There is unfinished business.

“What’s different is a lot of people sit back and say, ‘We solved it,’” Wilson said of racial tensions and issues. “We’re less physically afraid than we were, but more emotionally afraid of repercussions of what may happen for doing this.”

Racism and social injustices are “not as blatant,” according to Wilson, “but it’s there.”

Advertisement

“I saw prejudice in Bryn Mawr, (you don’t) have to be down south to see it,” she said.

The march culminated in one of the most impassioned and memorable speeches in U.S. history, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” address.

Juanita Jackson, who is helping organize the trip and was described by a congregant as “point person” for everything, will be marching in the footsteps of her parents.

“It’s touching,” she said. “It’s touching.”

The Rev. Leroy Burger, of Bethel AME, was an 11th grader attending a segregated school in Mississippi when the original march took place, but one of his good friends took a bus north to participate.

“He came back all excited from what he saw and what he heard,” Burger said.

There were some concerns of what the march might mean for his community, Burger said.

“With the (Ku Klux) Klan and all, there were some fears that they might retaliate,” he said.

Bethel AME’s the Rev. Vernon Ross was just 3 years old and also in Mississippi when the first march happened. He said his parents, especially his late father, were very much into labor equality, which the march focused on.

As such, it has a special place in Ross’ heart.

“When I consider what my parents shared with me, also just considering the things I experienced personally, and what my grandparents shared with me, this is most important because, in addition to doing it for those who came after us, I really believe we’re doing it for my father, my grandparents and my great-grandparents in Heaven,” Ross said. “I think they’re proud for the freedom we’re demonstrating for.”

All involved placed an emphasis on using the 50th anniversary march as a teaching tool for younger generations.

“Former generations did it for us,” Wilson said. “We have to do it for our children and for our grandchildren.”

Wilson cited the U.S. Supreme Court striking down key parts of the Voting Rights Act and related issues as problems today’s generations will deal with that are in the same vein of what those who originally marched on Washington faced.

“I have children and grandchildren and I want to stand up for them,” Wilson said.

“In one respect, a lot has changed,” since 1963, Burger said. “But I do think some of the generations after us don’t understand fully the impact of that time on them.”

Burger said younger generations might not have the same perspective, but commemorating the march’s anniversary might provide some.

“It was a different time,” Burger said. “I’m glad to have this opportunity to be a part of (this), pass it along to my kids and grandkids, especially.”

Ross agreed that the march is important for children and young people.

“Also, we must do it for us, because there are many who, if they didn’t go to the (first) march, they were alive and very much aware of the march,” Ross said.

“It means a great deal to me as a leader and a pastor in the Pottstown community,” Ross said. “It means a great deal because 50 years ago, the march was about jobs and freedom and we still have many who are unemployed today. We still have individuals who are still not free, in my opinion. Not so much the type of freedom we were marching about 50 years ago, but free from the other ills of society.”

Ross originally planned to just head down to the march himself, but members of his congregation expressed an interest to go and the bus trip was planned.

Preaching down in Mississippi at his childhood church Sunday, Ross recalled times when he himself felt like a second-class citizen.

Originally, Ross had a full scholarship to Mississippi State University but the injustices and prejudices he faced there forced him to drop out.

Luckily, Ross ended up at Jackson State University, a historically black college.

“I was treated as a human being, got a top-notch education. I am where I am today because of Jackson State,” Ross said. “I know what I had to endure even in the 60s and 70s. That’s why we’re marching.”

Margeret Burger, Leroy’s wife, also grew up in Mississippi and had the experience of feeling like a second-class citizen at times.

She’ll be a part of the group marching to the Lincoln Memorial, where King spoke his words now considered immortal. She feels the importance of being there.

“It means, to me, that a change has taken place but we have a long way to go,” said Margaret. “Going down to Washington means we’re following through.”

Some seats may still be available on the bus. Contact Bethel AME at 610-326-9171 to inquire.